yourGigs Festival Guide: The magic of Meredith

Got a ticket to Meredith this year? Zing. Get your gumboots and Mexican hats ready, enjoy the last shower you will have in three days and pack that esky full of Melbourne Bitter. It's party time.

Unlike most music festivals, this unique event held at the Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre in Victoria has an amazingly low ratio of dickheads compared to rad dudes and I can almost guarantee you will have the best weekend ever. If that doesn't immediately intrigue you, there is also only one stage (no timetable clashes) and instead of the dreaded portaloos, Meredith boasts ecologically friendly sawdust toilets (no mess, no smell - they will change your life). Plus, the bands rule. Some of Team Meredith '09 worth checking out are:

Animal Collective - Dude. I don't mean to seem like I care about material things, like a social status. I just want four walls and adobe slabs for my girls, okay? Most blogged about band in the history of blogs and or the internet, everyone who is anyone has hearted the song 'My Girls' on Hype Machine. Have you?

Akron/Family - This band's folky psychedelia couldn't be any more perfect than in a setting like Meredith. Holy moly. Do it!

Jarvis Cocker - The ever-sexy Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker is going to woo the pants off you this weekend, that's if you bother to wear pants (and to be honest, no one at Meredith really cares either way). Pretty sure we already made a joke about "being sorted for Es and whizz" once before on this website, so will definitely not make it again here.

Patrick Wolf - He's glamorous and eclectic in both music style and dress sense so I bet Mr Wolf's live show will be worth a look in. I mean, if not for the music then at the very least he might chuck a hissy fit, right? Entertainment!

Eddy Current Suppression Ring - These guys are definitely one of my favourite Australian bands at the moment, their live shows are always a ruckus-y, awesome, sweaty mess of fun. Apparently they are playing the "party" slot (12am) at Meredith this year so make sure you check 'em out.

Thee Oh Sees - ... And these dudes are friends with Eddy Current! If that alone is not encouragement enough to go see them, listen to this! So cool.

Kitty, Daisy & Lewis - Apparently this brother and sister trio have Coldplay's Chris Martin raving about them, but don't let that put you off. Their music is wonderful; it honestly sounds like it is from a different era. Toe-tappingly brilliant.

The Middle East - If you haven't had a spiritual epiphany while watching this band live then you are probably not a human being. Maybe you are some sort of humanoid robot that your parents adopted because they couldn't have children of their own. Sucks, dude. If you want to check your human status, watch this video and see if you get a bit teary (I did).

Tumbleweed - Don't call it a comeback! Grunge isn't dead, people. Rip some holes in your jeans and grow that hair out, Wollongong legends Tumbleweed are back and the raw power of their awesomeness will probably get you pregnant. Oh and here's a lesser-known fact about Meredith: a bunch of heroes usually decorate at least one of the eco-toilets with something fancy, like wallpaper, crocheted toilet paper holders or, no joke, a chandelier. Look out for the special toilet, it's the greatest thing your eyes shall ever behold and your behind will ever ... yeah.

Have fun at Meredith, you guys!

Bella Crea
9 Dec 2009